A TED Talk by Regina Hartley: Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume

“Beware of relying solely on a resume to hire; skills can be taught. What cannot be taught is a great “can do” attitude.” ― Beth Ramsay. The very first sketch that a recruiter draws of you is through your resume. Comprising the intricate details, that single sheet of paper speaks volumes about you, your professional life, your aspirations. The patchwork of your career sheds light on your beliefs. It displays whether or not you have the essential temperament required to take the business forward. Pivoting around this thought, Regina Hartley, a Human Resource manager at UPS, expressed her viewpoints in a TED Talk. 

Hiring talented individuals for an open position is undoubtedly a tedious task for recruiters. Selecting the right candidate amidst a pool of applications often boils down to the evaluation of one particular piece of paper: the resume. Where the world is said to be essentially divided into two sub-headings in almost every domain, resume, in particular, has two sub-divisions too. Categorically divided into, the Silver Spoon and the Scrapper, what exactly do these bizarre terms exhibit? 

The Silver Spoon and the Scrapper

We often come across individuals from the above two primary categories. The first ones have had the opportunity of studying in an Ivy League college, have excelled in academics and extra-curricular activities and boast of a flawless resume. On the other hand, individuals belonging to the second category have had to work long hours, against tremendous odds to land in a better place. They might have a resume displaying inconsistency in regard to job-hopping and would have graduated from a state college instead of one that’s reputed. 

The former category is a clear representation of the Silver Spoons while the later brings Scrapper in the spotlight. Which then, should you hire, amongst the two equally eligible candidates? 

What makes “Scrappers” different?

While most recruiters are inclined towards hiring the Silver Spoons, the ones who always had an upper edge in life, who were made to achieve success, Regina clearly advises the audience to hire the Scrapper. In the very least, the Scrapper deserves an interview. People who have had knotted lives in the past are the ones who have paved their way out with the least available resources. They have fought their way to stand in line with the Silver Spoons, the ones who always had it easy. In short, Scrappers have a basic idea of dealing with tough situations. 

Citing an instance of a student she hired from an elite university, Regina talked about the mindset of such candidates. Where they might have outperformed their peers in college, they aren’t habitual of failures. When onerous tasks come into the picture, they call it quits. This is where Scrappers stand out. Having been brought up for failures and surrounded by many such instances since childhood, these are people who have learnt to earn things. They, thus, have an idea of tackling things in difficult scenarios. 

“Hire the Scrapper”

To express her thoughts better, Regina puts forth a term called “Post Traumatic Growth”. A counterintuitive phenomenon, scientists coined this term for people who experienced hardships in their early lives but transformed into better individuals in the latter part of their lives. They pulled themselves out of the worst circumstances, poverty, learning disabilities, abandonment, violence, and eventually succeeded.

Beginning with a question, she states another example. Would you hire somebody who was given up for adoption, never finished college, has dyslexia and is quite a job-hopper? To the surprise of many, this resume was that of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, the very successful entrepreneur. 

What made him different? Answering this very basic question, Regina says, “If you've survived poverty, a crazy father and several muggings, you ask yourself, Business challenges? Really? Piece of cake." 

Drawing the curtains, she talks about companies that are committed to diversity and inclusive practices, which tend to support Scrappers. Such companies, as noted in a study by DiversityInc, have outperformed the S&P 500 index by 25 per cent, she added. Ending the TED Talk on a final note, Regina Hartley said, “Choose the underestimated contender, whose secret weapons are passion and purpose. Hire the Scrapper”.